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Healthcare reforms

As he wrapped up the ceremony of his inauguration and shifted to governing, Mr Trump signalled his intention to move quickly to make a clean break from the Obama administration.

Mr Trump spent his first night in the White House and was due to start his first full day in office at a national prayer service on Saturday morning. The traditional gathering was the last piece of the transition ritual for the new president before he was clear to get to work.

Before attending his inaugural balls on Friday, Mr Trump signed an executive order aimed at undermining former President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

Barack Obama addresses the nation (Image: AP Photo/Saul Loeb)

What is Obamacare?

Obamacare is the federal law implemented by Mr Obama which intended to improve access to health insurance for US citizens - it would help give coverage to Americans who were not insured by their employers and are not covered by health programmes for the poor and elderly. It signalled the largest overhaul of the US healthcare system since the 1960s.

Some of the things the law does:

The law bans insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

It allows people under-26 to stay on their parents' plans.

It requires businesses with more than 50 full-time staff to offer health insurance.

It also extends eligibility for Medicaid for the poor.

Republicans say that Obamacare is a 'job killer' and imposed too many costs on businesses.

What was President Trump's order?

The order notes that Mr Trump plans to seek the "prompt repeal" of the law. But in the meantime, it allows the Health and Human Services Department and other federal agencies to delay implementing any piece of the law that might impose a "fiscal burden" on states, health care providers, families or individuals.

National security team

He also cleared the way for members of his national security team to take their places. He signed legislation granting James Mattis, his choice for defence secretary, a one-time exception from federal law barring former US service members who have been out of uniform for less than seven years from holding the top Pentagon job.

The restriction is meant to preserve civilian control of the military. Mr Mattis, 66, retired from the Marine Corps in 2013.

Hours later, Mr Mattis was confirmed by the Senate as the president watched his inaugural parade from a stand outside the White House.

The Senate later confirmed retired General John Kelly as head of the Homeland Security Department.

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President Trump's inauguration

Mr Trump brought his signature style to the task of governing, sprinkling his comments at three inaugural balls with references to "phony polls," campaign victories and social media.

"Let me ask you: should I keep the Twitter going?" he asked a cheering crowd of supporters before dancing with his wife, Melania, to Frank Sinatra's My Way at the second of the balls.

"The enemies keep saying, 'Oh that's terrible,' but it's a way of bypassing dishonest media."

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the USA

Mr Trump was sworn in as the 45th president under cloudy, threatening skies at the West Front of the US Capitol.

He painted a bleak picture of the America he now leads, declaring as he had throughout the election campaign that it is beset by crime, poverty and a lack of bold action.

The billionaire businessman and reality television star - the first president who had never held political office or high military rank - promised to stir a "new national pride" and protect America from the "ravages" of countries he says have stolen US jobs.

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Demonstrations

After the swearing-in, there were demonstrations in the streets of Washington. Police in riot gear deployed pepper spray after protesters smashed the windows of businesses, denouncing capitalism and the new president.

Police reported more than 200 arrests by evening and said six officers had been hurt. At least one vehicle was set on fire.

Protesters at Donald Trump's inauguration

New support

But there was also support for the new president from many Americans, who feel the recovery from the Great Recession has come slowly or not at all.

His campaign tapped into seething anger in working class communities, particularly in the Midwest, that have watched factories shut down and the certainty of a middle class life wiped away.

Randy Showalter, a 36-year-old diesel mechanic and father of five from Mount Solon, Virginia, said he felt inspired as he stood and listened to Mr Trump's speech.

"I feel like there's an American pride that I've never felt, honestly, in my life," said Mr Showalter, who wore Mr Trump's signature Make America Great Again red hat.

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What next?

After attending the prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal parish with a dual role as a civic gathering place on Saturday, Mr Trump is expected to visit the CIA, meeting with members of the nation's intelligence community.

That visit may be fraught with tension as Mr Trump has sharply criticised the nation's top intelligence officials for their assertions about Russian hacking and leaks about his briefings in the weeks before he was sworn in.